History is witness that sparks of protest rising from Bihar often shake the power in Delhi. After Indira Gandhi, a front has now opened against Rahul Gandhi from Bihar itself. Former Union Minister Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, a lifelong Congressman, has left the party and called Rahul a "coward" and "incompetent," which is casting a shadow of crisis over the "shop of love."
Patna: The movement against Indira Gandhi started from Bihar, which led to the end of her rule. Now, the loudest voice of protest against Rahul Gandhi has resonated across the country from Bihar. History is witness that a voice of protest emanating from Bihar is never ineffective. Lest it happen that love departs from the shop of love, and only an empty shop remains. Why are those who love Congress leaving it? In reality, there cannot be a shop of love because it is a matter of the heart. Love is not a commodity that can be found in a shop. Now, the owner and proprietor of the shop (Rahul Gandhi) himself is being accused of lacking both competence and courage. Former Union Minister Dr. Shakeel Ahmed has been a lifelong Congressman. But what happened that he first left the Congress and is now calling Rahul Gandhi a cowardly leader?
Grandfather was an MLA in 1937, father and son were MLAs 5 times each
Can only those who flatter Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi remain in Congress? Can those with independent opinions not survive in Congress? Three generations of Dr. Shakeel Ahmed’s family served the Congress. His grandfather, Ahmed Ghafoor, was elected to the Bihar Assembly from Congress in 1937. His father, Shakur Ahmed, was an MLA five times from Congress between 1952 and 1977. After 1985, Shakeel Ahmed himself was a Congress MLA five times. He was also a Member of Parliament and a Union Minister. But after the 2025 assembly elections, he left the Congress party. If Shakeel Ahmed, a member of such a dedicated Congress family, has accused Rahul Gandhi of cowardice, there must be some truth to it.
Rahul Gandhi lacks an understanding of electoral issues!
If someone shows Rahul Gandhi a mirror, instead of fixing his appearance, he becomes intent on breaking the mirror. When Shakeel Ahmed left the party, he said that he still has unwavering faith in the party’s policies, but he has differences with some individuals at the top of the organization. This means his displeasure is with Rahul Gandhi. Some disgruntled Congress leaders say that Rahul Gandhi lacks an understanding of electoral issues. In Bihar, he worked tirelessly for 17 days through the Voter Rights Yatra to make SIR (State Information Commission) an election issue. He tried to create a favorable atmosphere by raising the slogan “Vote thief, leave the throne.” But all his efforts went in vain because it was not an issue in the eyes of the public. Not a single complaint was received against SIR.
The debate on Rahul Gandhi’s shortcomings has started again.
After Shakeel Ahmed’s statement, the debate on Rahul Gandhi’s shortcomings has intensified once again. It is alleged that Rahul Gandhi has destroyed the internal democracy of the party. When he resigned from the post of Congress president after the electoral defeat, he should have worked for the organization with a clear heart. He should have handed over the reins of the party to a capable leader from outside the family. But Rahul Gandhi could not free himself from the feeling of being the super boss. He did appoint Mallikarjun Kharge, a leader from outside the family, as president, but he kept all the powers in his own hands. Kharge is just a president in name; all the decisions are taken by Rahul Gandhi. Kharge’s signature is just a formality.
Now, there is opposition to Rahul Gandhi even at the district level in Bihar.
This strong voice against Rahul Gandhi emanating from Bihar will resonate far and wide. Now, even at the district level, Congress leaders have started questioning Rahul Gandhi’s incompetence. Currently, Bihar Congress leaders are holding public meetings in the districts under the ‘Save MNREGA Campaign’. A public meeting was held in Darbhanga on Tuesday. During this time, local leader Ram Narayan accused Rahul Gandhi, saying that the Congress party would not progress in Bihar until the buying and selling of tickets stopped. Local leaders started chanting slogans against Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru and state president Rajesh Ram.
Authored by: Ashok Kumar Sharma • Edited by: Sunil Pandey
About the Author
Ashok Kumar Sharma is a senior journalist. He has more than three decades of experience in journalism. He understands the politics and society of Bihar very well and analyzes the changes taking place there with keen observation. He has done special reporting on Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Bihar.
Courtesy: Hindi News